Match details. Premier League, Regular Season - 12. Kick-off is Sun 25 Oct, 14:00 Lagos time. It is played at VEB Arena, Moskva. The referee is Kirill Levnikov.
What's at stake. CSKA Moscow are 5th on 22 points after 11 games, 1 point behind Spartak Moscow, 6 points clear of FC Orenburg. A win would take them above Spartak Moscow. FK Spartak Moscow are 4th on 23 points after 11 games, level on points with FC Krasnodar, 1 point clear of CSKA Moscow. A win would take them above FC Krasnodar.
Team news. CSKA Moscow are without I. Akinfeev (muscle injury), D. Barinov (knee injury), M. Gajic (knee injury), L. Gondou (yellow cards), Moises (knee injury), Matheus Alves (inactive). V. Torop is their first-choice keeper. CSKA Moscow's line-up is confirmed. FK Spartak Moscow are without C. Martins (muscle injury), D. Zorin (achilles tendon injury), C. Martins (muscle injury), D. Zorin (achilles tendon injury). Gedson Fernandes is their centre-back. FK Spartak Moscow's line-up is confirmed.
Form. CSKA Moscow have won five, drawn four and lost one of their last ten, 1.9 points a game. Their last five, newest first: L W W D W. In this competition CSKA Moscow have gone L W W D W D. FK Spartak Moscow have won six, drawn two and lost two of their last ten, 2.0 points a game. Their last five, newest first: W D W W L. In this competition FK Spartak Moscow have gone W D W W L D.
The numbers. CSKA Moscow score 1.5 and concede 0.7 a game in their last six at home, with three clean sheets. CSKA Moscow average 15.9 shots (6.1 on target), 4.8 corners and 2.4 cards a game, with 50% of the ball. FK Spartak Moscow score 1.8 and concede 0.8 a game over their last ten, with four clean sheets. FK Spartak Moscow average 14.8 shots (5.1 on target), 6.0 corners and 2.8 cards a game, with 60% of the ball.
Head to head. In the last ten meetings CSKA Moscow have won two, drawn three and lost five. Five of the ten went over 2.5 goals and both teams scored in five. In the last four, CSKA Moscow won two and FK Spartak Moscow won two. The last time they met, on 6 May 2026, it finished CSKA Moscow 0-1 FK Spartak Moscow: six yellow cards.
The case against. FK Spartak Moscow without Gedson Fernandes (centre-back). CSKA Moscow's record still gives them 35% to win.
The read. FK Spartak Moscow or the draw. A tight game. FK Spartak Moscow are the stronger side on form and the table; the meetings favour FK Spartak Moscow. Their goals for and against point to a tight game. Their records put over 2.5 goals at 47%.
The bets. No bet yet: nothing I'd back is priced yet. Leave: FK Spartak Moscow or Over 2.5 Goals (no overs on a tight read); 2nd Half - Draw No Bet: FK Spartak Moscow (the signs point different ways); FK Spartak Moscow Over 0.5 goals (CSKA Moscow's own games don't back it (3 of 6)). Predicted score: CSKA Moscow 1-1 FK Spartak Moscow (13% chance).
Every score's chance from both teams' checked games, never cut or rescaled. The lit square is the likeliest score that fits the read (the call and a tight game).